Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-05-16
Trial ocE.ifcboaes.


ifeboats met st the life-saving station at
Lewes, Del. on the 2Sth of April to examine
boats ordered there for trial. On the after
noon of that day Capt. F. l.. Norton arrived
from Philadelphia with his steam launch
and Two Of his boats ia tow, one boat %
feet and the other 26 feet long On the
Doth the weather was stormy, the wind
blowing with velocity of forty.six miles
an hour, with rough sea. About two
O'Clock p. m. Capt. Norton, at the request OF
the committee, went out with his 26 foot beat
under sail. AS the force Of the wind gave
him 81 unlocked for opportunity to show
the great stability, buoyancy, and self
rightipg power Of boats built upon his sys-
tenn, lie determined to take advantage OF it:
consequently he spread much more canvas
than would have been justitiable with any
other form Of construction; the consequences
were that as soon as the boat was fairly ex
posed to the full force of the wind she was
thrown down on or nearly, on her beam
ends, with her lee gunwale between two
and three feet under water. still, even 10
this position, she was under perfect
control OF the helm, and Immediately
righted whenever the main sheet
was eased of and sac was relieved from the
fun pressure of the wind. Captain Norton
repeated this experiment several times,
showing clearly that his boats when thrown
or their beam ends would not capsize, but
would always and at any time Immediately
come upright whenever relieved from por
ton oi the pressure which carried them
over
After experimenting for 9 time in this
crfO n IN IF
water as she was, on to the beach through
the surf. She struck the beach stem on and
was swung around by the sea broadside TO
the shore. but she never for g moment left
an even keel, but was gradually lifted by
the seas in an upright position till she WAS
well upon the beach and her crew were
within jumping distance of dry ground.
Captain Norton was fortunate in meeting
with such an opportunity to show the Won
0erful bouyancy and stability of his boats,
and showed his foresight and confidence by
mis- prompt acceptance of it. Had he made
any mistake regarding the powers and sea
worthy qualities Of his boat his position
would have been very serious one. His
boat would have been capsized and his
claims and possibly his life lost. We venture
to say that no other inventor OF lifeboats has
ever subjected his boat successfully 10 such
an ordeal. On the following day, the
30th, the 22-foot Norton boat was capsized
by order Of the committee with tackles, to
test hex aelfrigbting qualities. She was
laid bottom up on the water several times,
but always righted Immediately the same
way she went over as soon as relieved. Her
lientness and speed when propelled by oars
was then tried, and the result fully justified
Captain Norton's claim in this regard.
Our reporter, who witnessed all the ex-
perimeuIs, is fully convinced that these
trials clearly establish the fact that the Nor
ton system Of construction affords all the Sc
curity and efficiency that the inventor
claims, and that its general adoption will be
The means OF saving thousands Of lives and
great boon 10 humanity. Let pleasure
boats, yachts and passenger steamers be
constructed on Captain Norton's system,
and the loss of life from human drowning
will be reduced ninety per cent.
The Captain has returned with bis little
steamer and boats to Alexandria, where he
is establishing the boat and shipbuilding
works Of the Norton Ship-Bnilding Com
pany Of Virginia and Yves. Virginia, and
where boats and vessels upon the Norton
system will hereafter he constructed. Fur
ther trials will shortly take place on the
river at Alexandria, when the members OF
the press and others will be invited to at
tend -JTdShinQtOR HHchet.